Hi Caracal, it is a pleasure. I don't share a good opinion about Potjespram. To me it is on the wrong side of the mining activities, "detached" from Richtersveld proper. @ the designated camping spots there is NO view of the river and it is very dusty. The photo here was at campsite "C". Last time (and I mean the LAST time ) we were there (2010) the very same spot was not usable as it was covered with flood debris. There are some spots in and among the riverbank shrubs which may be nice in summer as they are mostly shaded but not what I want to experience in the Richtersveld.

Thanks again Weskusklong...ag well we are only at Potjiespram for one night...I will remember to spend more time taking photographs en route to Potjiespram. By the way do you know what the story is with wood. We are actually spending the first night across the border and then driving along the Orange River to enter at Sendelingsdrift. I am not sure whether we can take wood with us into Nam...and if so can we bring it back into RSA with us at Sendelingsdrift ???Another question but I am going to have to ask you to pm the answer to me ..if you have one that is.We need to find a place to stay over on the way home ..somewhere between De Hoop and Cape Town. Any suggestions. Thanks again for your help !

Hi Caracal, officially wood is not allowed into Namibia from SA but you can do the other way round. Some officials ask and some don't. With our last enter from Mata Mata into Namibia they did... and I had a stack of wood in the car. I will PM you about the rest.

@BB yes you can get to the river from the campsites but it is not like De Hoop or Richtersberg where you can camp riverside - way to many shrubs. (In any way not the few times we were there.) O... and about the 4x4 bit. If you stay on the designated routes there is nothing serious on offer. (If you have a proper 4x4 that is.)

Thanks Sharifa... the Richtersveld is such a photogenic place. You just have to point somewhere and to have a decent photo!

Well we are back from our trip to Richtersveld ands enjoyed it very much...all the info that I was given was indeed correct,,,@ BB we must have had the exact same site at PP...it seems we were the only ones that had a view of the river. If I was on any of the other campsites I may have been a bit unhappy. Having said that PP seems to have more ablutions than the other campsites...I can only speak for De Hoop and Richtersberg.

Camping at De Hoop was great...but I have decided that camping alongside the Orange River does not give one the true perspective of the Richtersveld..it gives you a true perspective of camping alongside a river...any kind of a river. On my next trip to the park I will definitely camp at Kokerboomkloof and spend time at the other "inland camps". Yes that was suggested to me...but we did not have a lot time time etc ..and I am happy to have experienced what we have experienced.....but I am not done with the Richtersveld yet.

Thanks again to everybody for your good advice......it is indeed a special place that requires more time to appreciate it fully. Our trip was planned on the spur of the moment...with not much time to explore...but we thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!!

This will be a look see trip for us too as we are in the area and cannot resist stopping over to spend a few nights in the park ... BUT this is not a camping trip for us, so .... options are not that open as if we were camping, which we will have to do next time. That leaves three options?

And we will be coming from KTP, Bitterpan, so will it be much shorter to go via Namibia. What is the road out of Mata Mata into Namibia like?

HelloI would like at the ena of August go in that park (I will be before in Kalahari and Mokala.For go in this park is necessary a 4wd and it is more expensive to rent instead of a Suv (xtrial) to go in Kalahari.What you think about : is it very very interesting ? .I could spend there 2 days and I normally no walk more...Thanks

You will require a 4x4 to visit Richtersveld. Sedan vehicles are not permitted. Some sections are very rocky and other areas sandy where one can easily get stuck without a 4x4 and even with one.

August will be a wonderful time to visit the park due to the flower season in Namakwaland from August to September.

Just some advice on the time. It will take you nearly a full day from Augrabies to one of the campsite, which means if you book at De Hoop you might reached it nearly at dusk. One can easily get lost at that time of the day and I recommend you to book at Sendelingsdrift or Pootjespram for the first night. Augrabies to Sendelingsdrift is 632 km, but when driving in the park you will only be able to cover 25 - 40 km/h and its not due to speed restrictions Total distance from Twee Rivieren, Kgalagadi to Sendelingsdrift is 1020 km and quite a bit to bite off for one day.

I am not sure if you are going to camp but I would recommend De Hoop for camping. The first time I visited Richtersveld was in 2001 when there were not even ablution facilities. Currently there are no power source at the camping areas, except solar lights at the Wilderness camp.

The reason visiting the park is mainly for the landscape scenery. Two days are a bit short to visit most of the areas and I would recommend staying at least 3 days besides the day you travel to the park.

You will require a 4x4 to visit Richtersveld. Sedan vehicles are not permitted. Some sections are very rocky and other areas sandy where one can easily get stuck without a 4x4 and even with one.

August will be a wonderful time to visit the park due to the flower season in Namakwaland from August to September.

Just some advice on the time. It will take you nearly a full day from Augrabies to one of the campsite, which means if you book at De Hoop you might reached it nearly at dusk. One can easily get lost at that time of the day and I recommend you to book at Sendelingsdrift or Pootjespram for the first night. Augrabies to Sendelingsdrift is 632 km, but when driving in the park you will only be able to cover 25 - 40 km/h and its not due to speed restrictions Total distance from Twee Rivieren, Kgalagadi to Sendelingsdrift is 1020 km and quite a bit to bite off for one day.

I am not sure if you are going to camp but I would recommend De Hoop for camping. The first time I visited Richtersveld was in 2001 when there were not even ablution facilities. Currently there are no power source at the camping areas, except solar lights at the Wilderness camp.

The reason visiting the park is mainly for the landscape scenery. Two days are a bit short to visit most of the areas and I would recommend staying at least 3 days besides the day you travel to the park.

Good luck with your planning.

Thanks a lot...but we haven't with us camp equipement so we must go to the lodge..About the park is it possible go inside by car instead of hike ?Off course using foot instead of car I think could be possible to see better the park..but we have no long time.For this reason I am no sure to go in this park because I must spend a long time to arrive here (allso if the road could be nice - is it true ?- and I will not have no right time for see the park in the right way

I've travelled the road in July from Mata-Mata to Stampriet. In Kgalagadi terms a very good gravel road . We travelled about 70 -80 km/h towing a trailer while most others overtook us. It can be very dusty and windy with lots of up and downs following the riverbed, but in general a smooth ride.

When heading to Cape Town you will turn off before Gochas to Keetmanshoop. That part I am not familiar with, but comparing with most gravel road, beside Spreethoogte pass and others passes from Sossusvlei to Windhoek, I would expect similar conditions.

When visiting Bitterpan you can exit on the shorter route to Morevet and will find it quicker to reach Mata-Mata.I am not sure if any one told you about the 4x4 route to Bitterpan. Not too far from the camp is a sharp turn to your right that was named after the tourist assitant at the camp, namely Willem se draai. Its a very sandy corner where you must not slowdown to much to avoid getting stuck.

I've done that route a few times, as recently as beginning of this month.

I can recommend:

From Mata Mata follow the route over Koes to Keetmanshoop (C17). Here you can stock up on everything you need - especially wood. Then continue on the B4, turning left on the D545 until T junction on the C12/M28. Turn left until T junction onto C37/D601, then turn right. Now you are in the Namibian part of the RTP and there are a few options. You can continue to Hobas, go to the Canyon lookout, continue to Ai Ais hot spring resort - do the short but scenic Gamchab 4x4 trail towards Sendelingsdrift - and then cross the Gariep with the pontoon at Sendelingsdrift. The other option is to enter SA at Vioolsdrift and then approach the SA part of RTP via the Richtersveld conservancy (4x4 route). So yes to many options to cover in one go!

The roads on the Namibian side are all in very good condition but beware of lose gravel - especially on the C17.

Am planning a visit to the Richterveld. Have never been so I need some advice.What is the best time of year to go (Climate wise?)My wife does not enjoy camping, So which camps would you recommend?A logical itinerary would help (I reside in Pretoria)